"The New York Islanders have somehow managed to keep their heads above water during a stretch that, by any offensive metric, should have sunk them. Despite a prolonged scoring drought, the Islanders have continued to pick up points, leaning heavily on structure, goaltending and one-goal-game resilience. But the math is catching up, and it's becoming increasingly clear this is not a sustainable formula for winning in the NHL."
"Over their last nine games, the Islanders have scored just 17 goals, excluding shootout winners - an average of 1.88 goals per game. They have not scored more than two goals in regulation in any of those contests. According to team statistician Eric Hornick, it marks the first time since November-December 2021 that the Islanders have gone nine straight games held to two goals or fewer. For perspective, the team went 1-8-1 during that stretch."
"What has kept the Islanders afloat is elite goaltending. With Ilya Sorokin sidelined on injured reserve, David Rittich has been outstanding, giving the team a chance to win nearly every night. The Islanders have picked up nine points during this nine-game stretch, a testament to defensive commitment and timely saves - but also a warning sign. Teams that rely on goaltending perfection eventually regress."
The Islanders have endured a nine-game stretch with just 17 goals, averaging 1.88 goals per game and failing to score more than two regulation goals in any contest. That nine-game run of limited offense is the first since November-December 2021 and coincided with a 1-8-1 record in the earlier instance. Elite goaltending, notably David Rittich with Ilya Sorokin injured, has kept the team competitive and produced nine points during the slump. The team’s structure and defensive commitment have generated chances but insufficient finishing. Reliance on perfect goaltending and razor-thin margins is unlikely to sustain long-term success.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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